Tag Archives: Christmas Festivals

In today’s Seattle Times, there is a handy guide on where to see some fantastic holiday light displays in the Seattle area. For those of you in the Ballard area, you don’t have to go far. Check out the displays at these addresses:

9234 13th Ave NW – This house has a fun display, with Santa on the roof, a skiing snowman, and a handmade forest!

351 NW 52nd St – Using over 18,000 lights (WOW!), this property owner has a train, a 25-foot star, candy canes, a snowman, a Christmas Tree, and the list goes on and on…

Olympic Manor – This is a no-brainer for most Ballard residents but take a drive or walk through Olympic Manor to see some lovely light displays celebrating the holidays. The entrance is on NW 85th St. and 22nd/21st Ave NW or at NW 90th and 24th ave NW.

NW 75th St and 21st Ave NW – I was driving around the neighborhood and spotted a house around this location that definitely embraced the holiday spirit. If you have time, swing by and check this house out.

If you want to know where you can go outside of Ballard to see fantastic holiday light displays, check out the Seattle Times guide.

Seattle’s annual Christmas Ship Festival officially kicks off this Thursday, December 1st, and you don’t want to miss it when it floats by Ballard. The 62 year Seattle tradition is a sure way to get you and your family into the holiday spirit.

On December 7th, head over to either the Ballard Locks or Golden Gardens Park in the evening to see the largest holiday floating parade in the world. The brightly decorated Christmas ships will stop in front of the Ballard Locks for 20 minutes, starting at 8:10pm. It’ll continue on to Golden Gardens Park and be there from 9:05-9:25pm. Pack a thermos of hot chocolate, warm your hands by the bonfire and listen to the Dickens Carolers.

If you’re busy on Wednesday, you can catch the ships up near Carkeek Park on Sunday, December 11th. The Christmas Ships arrive in Carkeek Park a bit earlier, around 6:00pm. For more information, check out the full schedule here. Happy Holidays!

Hale’s Palladium, located on Ballard’s Leary Way, is hosting the 2010 Winter Beer Festival this weekend, Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th. The Winter Beer Festival, brought to you by the Washington Beer Commission, will feature seasonal beers from over 30 local breweries. The Commission represents all Washington breweries and has done so since the Summer of 2007. Keep warm in this winter air by tasting a variety of beers including specials from Elliot Bay Brewing, Chuckanut Brewery in Bellingham, and Flyers Brewery in Oak Harbor, just to name a few. Wash down what you’re eating which will include treats from Theo Chocolate and grub from Hale’s Ales Brewery and Pub. Tickets are $23/person in advance and $25 at the door. Admission includes a tasting cup and six 5 oz. tastes. If you’re paying at the door, make sure to bring some cash! Extra tokens are $1.50/piece. Act quickly, because advance sales end tomorrow morning at 5:00 am. Please visit the official site for more details. Happy drinking!

BALLARD IN A NUTSHELL

Ballard is a Seattle neighborhood located northwest of downtown. Ballard is known for its nordic and maritime roots and is home to the Hiram M. Chittenden Locks. Today the area is a popular living location with hip restaurants and a thriving condominium community.